Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Bahamas MOH Investigating Traveler From South Africa Who Died Sunday

#11,209

One of the sobering lessons of the 21st century is how easily - in our highly mobile society - someone can contract an illness in one part of the world and turn up at a hospital's emergency room anywhere else in the world within 24 to 48 hours.

Currently the Bahamian MOH is investigating a traveler who died Sunday of an unknown illness. Media reports describe a 51 year old woman who checked into a Nassau hospital on March 15th, after returning from South Africa two weeks earlier.

Despite the media speculation this might be Ebola, South Africa hasn't reported a case in nearly 20 years, making that very unlikely. Still, tests are being run by our own CDC for Ebola, and other potential viruses.

First the statement from the Bahamian Ministry of Health, then I'll have a bit more.

Ministry of Health Press Release - Ebola Remains Unlikely

Authored by:

Ministry of Health

Source:

Ministry of Health

Date:

March 28, 2016

The Ministry of Health and its agencies including the Public
Hospitals Authority, Department of Public Health and the Pan American
Health Organization in an update this morning maintains that a suspected
case of Ebola at the Princess Margret Hospital is unlikely.

A meeting was held this morning with senior Health Officials led by
the Minister of Health, Dr. the Honorable M. Perry Gomez, and including
Dr. Kathleen Israel, Pan American Health Organization representative
along with the PAHO Washington DC team at which it was confirmed that
conclusive testing is being facilitated for a number infectious diseases
including Ebola through the Centers of Disease Control in the United
States of America.

The patient who passed away on Sunday evening had travelled to
Johannesburg South Africa in early March. According to the World Health
Organization, South Africa to date has had no reported cases of
Ebola.

The Ministry of Health can confirm that all standard protocols
including necessary protective measures in keeping with international
guidelines have been followed in the management of the patient at the
Princess Margaret Hospital.

The Ministry of Health will continue to work closely with PAHO and
other international partners to ensure that effective measures are
followed to safeguard the health of the public in accordance with
international best practice.

Luckily, imported cases of Ebola, MERS, and avian flu are still rare events.

Still, every health care facility – large and small - needs to plan, train and equip themselves for the possibility that the next patient that comes through the ER entrance could be carrying something considerably more exotic than seasonal flu.

Because, as we saw when MERS raced through multiple hospitals in Korea last summer, the cost of not being ready can be unacceptably steep.